Method and apparatus for utilizing potential hydraulic energy



Ian. 29 1924. 1,481,797 N. HADDEN METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR UTILIZING POTENTIAL HYDRAULIC ENERGY Original Filed May 6. 1921 Patented Jan. 29, 1924.

,YUNITED, STATES 1,4 1,197 PATENT OFFICE.

NIAL HADDEN, OF BUFFALO, ,NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO SHERMAN WOODWARD AND ONE-THIRD TO PALMER, OSTERMAN, BOTH OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

METHOD AND|APPARATUS FOB UTILIZING POTENTIAL H YDBAULIC ENERGY.

Application filed May 6, 1921, Serial No. 467,444. Renewed December 9, 1922;

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I,NIAL HADDEN, a citizen of the United States. residing at Buffalo, in

the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Method and Apparatus for Utilizing Potential Hydraulic Energy, of which the following is a. specification.

This invention relates to amethod and an apparatus for utilizing potential hydraulic energy. and has for an object to transform such energy into available hydraulic power without assistance from natural water falls or swiftly moving currents.

It is a well known fact that there are numerous streams of water flowing below the surface of the ground and that there are subterranean strata which carry away water or are capable of carrying away water. r

The present invention aims to take advantage of this natural condition-to produce a flow from bodies of water such as ponds, lakes, rivers, streams and springs located at, or comparatively near, the surface of the earth to a subterranean water-carrying stratum, and to utilize the flow thus produced to transform the potential energy of the Water into available power.

The invention may be carried out by drilling a well-downwardly from the surface of the earth to a subterranean water-carrying stratum and conducting water from a body of water located at, or. comparatively near,

85 the surface of the earth into the upper portion of the well. Any known form of water propelled mechanism, hydraulic power producer, or power unit, may be located so that it is actuated by the downward flow of the water in the v'vell. The power produced in the mechanism'may beused to operate an electrical generator, or for any other purpose desired; i v

In the accompanying drawings which is a view partly in section and partly in elevation, there has" been shown a complete apparatusembodying the present invention.

Referring to thedrawing by characters of reference, 1 designates a bored well extending to a point below the level of the bottom of' the nearest bodies of water and this well 1 is lined or cased with metal tubing or the like indicated at 2 and which extends up to the surface of the ground where it communicates, through a conduit 3 or the like,

with the nearest body of water so that there will be a-flow of water from-said body to the interior of the tubing 2. The conduit 3 may be provided with a hand controlled valve 4 for regulating the flow of water to the well and, if desired, another valve 5 can be uti lized, the operation thereof being controlled by a hydraulic governor valve indicated generally at 6 and which can be of any construction desired. 1 4

From the bottom "of the well 1 there is bored another well 7 which extends downwardly through the rock until a lower watercarrying stratum, indicated generally at 8, is reached. In some instances the well will open downwardly into an underground current flowing in the stratum 8. It is not essential, however, that there should be such a current of water in the stratum 8 before the apparatus is placed in operation. It should be understood, therefore, that the expression water-carrying stratum as used in this specification, and in'the claims, signifies any geological formation that will actively conduct away water delivered to it. Thus it will be seen that when the valves 4 and 5 are opened the water flowing through the conduit 3 to the tubing 2 will travel downwardly to the water-carrying stratum 8 and then flow off at a lower level. In many instances the water-carrying stratum slopes for a considerab'le distance before reaching an outlet but as lon as the water will flow out as rapidly as it is discharged into the well, the desired results canbe obtained.

is provided with any siiitable propellers 10or the like adapted to be actuated by the downward flow of .water in the well. The upper end of the shaft is supported bythe tubing in any suitable manner, as by means 7 of a bearing 11 designed to receive the thrust and the upper end of the shaft can be connected to an electrical generator, such as indicated generally at 12. A governor indicated diagrammatically at 13 is provided for controlling the actuation of the valve.

90 A shaft 9. is suspended in the well and system such as described water power can be obtained in many places where there 15 no natural water fall and no quickly moving current. All that is required is a subterranean water-carrying stratum in proximity to a body of'water, either still or flowing at an elevation above said stratum so that-by boring the well to said water-carrying stratum the. necessary downward flow through the well can be effected.

The-invention is by no means limited to the particular method and a paratus which has been described in detail ibr the purpose of illustration. Thus under certain conditions of the soil, the metal casing 2 may be eliminated, or may be extended to a length greater .thanthat shown in the drawing. urthermore, any desired form of water propelled power producing mechanism'may be substituted for that shown in the draw- -%Vhat is claimed is the well rom the adjacent body of water,

and mechanism suspended within the well for actuation by a water current flowing downwardly through the well and means controlled by the actuation of said mechanism for regulating the How of water to the cased portion of the well, thereby to maintain uniform actuation of the mechanism.

amps? 3. The herein described method of utilizing potential hydraulic energy which consists in forming a well extending from the surface to a lower water carrying stratum, casing the upper portion of the well to a level below the bottom of an adjacent body of water, positioning a water propelled mechanism within the well above the lower end thereof. and directing water from the adjacent body into the cased portion of the well for delivery at the lower water carrying stratum.

4. The. method of utilizing potential bydraulic energy, which comprises conducting water from a body of water to a subterranean water-carrying stratum located below the level of said body of water, and utilizing the flow of water thus produced tooperate a hydraulic power producer.

5. Apparatus for utilizing potential hydraulic energy, comprising a substantially vertical well extending downwardly to a subterranean water-carrying stratum, means for conductin water into aportion of said well above said stratum, and a water propelled power producing mechanism located so as to be actuated by the downward flow of said water in the well.

6. Apparatus for utilizing potential hydraulic energy, comprising water propelled power producing mechanism located below the level of a body of water and above the level of a subterranean water-carrying stratum, a conduit connecting the body of water with said mechanism, and a conduit connecting said mechanism with said stratum.

In'testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixed'my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

NIAL HADDEN.

Witnesses:

EMILY J. THOMFSON, BEN. S. THOMPSON. 

